Priming system for centrifugal pumps



Ebb E, BQB. Q. HAENTJENS PRIMING SYSTEM FOR CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS Filed May 23, 1929 Patented Feb. 3, 1931 PATENT OFFICE OTTO HAENTJENS, OF HAZLETON, PENNSYLVANIA PRIMING SYSTEM FOB CENTRIFUGALPUMPS Application med Hay 23,

This invention has to do with priming syshas to do with means for assuring the closing of the priming check valve when the centrifugal pump comes into operation.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 represents somewhat diagrammatically a priming system in which thisv invention is embodied.

Figure 2 is a sectional view,on a larger` scale, showing the priming check valve, the centrifugal pump and the means for closing the valve.

The invention is illustrated as it is used in a priming system of the type shown in my Patent 1,513,705 dated'October 28, 1924. A centrifugal pump 10,'driven preferably by an electric motor l1, draws rom a sump through the suction line 12. It is primed by liquid drawn into its casino' through this inlet by the suction eil'ort otaa priming pump 13. The suction effort is communicated to the centrifugal pump casing through piping forming the priming connection 14. The flow of priming liquid may, however, be induced by other means than a suction ump without aecting the applicability of t e present invention.

The priming check valve unit 15, corresponding in function to the valve shown in "my'Patent 1,481,199 dated January 15, 1924,

is arranged in the priming connection. It is held in open position during the priming by a device 16 which may be either a spring or a solenoid, as shown here, or the equivalent, or it may be a vacuum-operated device such as that shown in my coending application Serial No. 364,189, filed ay 18, 1929. The

' valve stem 17 extends through the casing and through the port 18 which leads to the suction pump side of the priming connection 14.

The valve itself 19, as illustrated here, is of thepiston type having Vports 20 which provide a restricted flow path through it.

On the opposite end of the valve stem from that to which the device 16 is connected, is a piston 21 working in a cylinder 22 formed as a part of the valve casing. The outer end of this cylinder is connected by a pipe 23 to the pipe 24 which leads from the top of the 5cen- 1929. ASerial No. 365,446.

trifugal pump casing to the priming check valve 15 and which therefore forms a part of the priming connection 14. The inner end of this cylinder 22 is in communication with the inlet side 25 of the centrifugal pump through a pipe 26. In place of a piston, there may be-a diaphragm or other means acting as a supplemental actuator and operated by the pump pressure or the suction at the inlet of the pump or by the joint action of both the suction and the pump pressure. The pipe 23 may lead directly to any suitable point in the centrifugal pump casing, the connection to the pipe 24 being merely more easily effected.

There is also, in the priming connection, a float-operated vent device 27 which serves to break the vacuum in the priming line when liquid rises therein sufficiently to lift the tlloat. The float may also actuate a valve to c ose off the priming connection on the centrifugal pump side of the vent but such a valve is not necessary under all conditions. The usual drain leg 28 equipped with an outwardly opening check valve 29 is provided also. This part of the system, in itself, be ing no part of the present invention, needs no more detailed description.

The system may be operated automatically, in such a manner as that shown in my Patent 1,513,705 or as shown in my copending ap- -plication referred to above, or it may be manually controlled in the sense that the motors for the priming and centrifugal pumps, or the alternative mechanisms, may be started and stopped independently under control of an attendant. In any eventA the priming pump is started first and is operated until liquid 1s drawn into the centrifugal pump casing, and into the priming connectlon by passing through the ports -in the valve 19, and until the float controlled vent 27 acts tov break the vacuum. `At that time, the centrifugal pump presumably is primed and is therefore started.

As soon as liquid is delivered under pump pressure into the pipes 24 and 23, the priming check valve is moved to the left (referring to Figure 2) toseal the port 18 and thus to prevent flow of more liquid into the priming connection. The closing of the valve is due to actuated by the suction at the inlet side of the the combined action of two forces, viz., the flow of liquid through the restricted passage rovided by the ports 20 in the valve, and the orce on the piston 2l, the magnitude of which depends on the difference between the inlet and discharge pressures 'of the pump and on the size of the piston and of the connections 23, 24.

The invention, of which the system described above is an embodiment, may be used equally well with a multi-stage pump and has certain peculiar advantages in that use. An illustration of such use is shown in my copending application Serial No., 333,17 9 filed anuary l ,1929;

It is possible to utilize, in many forms, the underlying inventive ideas illustrated by the ystem described here, and for that reason wish to include within the scope of the protection afforded by a patent all such variations as come within the fair scope of the following claims.

I claim- 1. A centrifugal pump, a suction priming connection leading therefrom, a valve controlling said connection, means whereby said valve is urged toward closed position by flow of liquid under pump pressure. and supplemental means tending to close the said valve whenthe centrifugal pump comes into operation.

2. A 'centrifugal pump, a suction priming connection leading therefrom, avalve controlling said connection. means whereby said valve is urged toward closed position by flow of liquid under pump pressure, a supplemental actuator for the said valve and a conduit leading from the casing of said centrifugal pump for delivering liquid under pres sure actuator. Y

3. A centrifugal pump, a suction priming connection leading therefrom and a valve controlling said connection, said valve being to operate the said supplemental said pump.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specifi cation.

OTTO HAEN TJ ENS.

adapted to remain open during priming, in- 5 combination with means, tending to close the said valve, operated by the suction at the inlet side of the said pump and also by pressure generated by the said pump.

4. A. centrifugal pump, a. suction priming connection leading therefrom, a valve controlling said connection, said valve being adapted to be urged toward closed position by low of liquid under pump pressure, and supplemental means, tending to close the said valve, operated by both the inlet and discharge pressures of the said pump.

5. A centrifugal pump, a suction priming connection leading therefrom, a valve controlling said connection, means whereby said valve is urged toward closed position by flow of liquid under pump pressure, and supplemental means, tending to close the said valve,

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